Improvement in trunk-lid stays



CHARLTTE H. PARLIMAN.

Trunk-Lid stays.

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' one of the stays.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

CHARLOTTE H. PARLIMAN, OF PALMYRA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-LID STAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,150, dated August 18, 1874 application filed May 26,1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mrs. CHARLOTTE H. PARLIMAN, of Palmyra, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stays for Trunk and other Lids; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same.

My invention consists in the combination, with a hinged stay for supporting the lid, of coiled springs in the corners for assisting the opening action of the stay and retaining it in proper position, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a trunk with the lid open, showing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale.

A is the trunk, and B the lid. C is one of the stays, of which one or more may be used on a trunk, as may be desired. These stays consist each of two straps, a a, hinged centrally, at b, by a rule-joint, and having end pieces c c, also hinged at d d, said ends being attached, respectively, to the edges of the trunk and lid, as shown in Fig. l. When elevated the stay straightens a little above the straight line, as shown, the two shoulders lc lc being grooved out to allow this to be done, and by this means the lid is held up. When depressed, the straps of the stay fold together, one over the other, and rest in slots or cavities ff, formed in the contiguous edges of the body and lid, so that the parts can close together. The ends of the straps a c, next to the central joint, are thickened, so as to form the shoulders k k, which strike together to stii'en the stay, and this thickness gradually decreases toward the outer ends, as shown.

In order to render this stay effective in use, I combine with it coiled springs g g, near the ends, at the junction between the stay and the trunk and lid. These springs rest under the stay and in sockets h h bored in the wood, They may be held at the top by pins ll, which extend down from the stay and rest within them. By this means the springs are held in place and prevented from disengagement, and are properly guided both in opening and closing the lid.

The operation is as follows: The moment the lid begins to rise the coiled springs press the stay outward, thus keeping it stitt' all the way as the lid opens, and preventing anyl loose or swinging action of the stay, which would occur if the springs were not used. They also assist, in a certain degree, the raising of the lid. They give that rigidity to the stayin the opening movement which is desirable to prevent loose and swinging action. They allow the folding of the stay into the slots f f, as a spring at the center joint could not well be folded in so that the lid would close on the trunk-body.

I so arrange the stay that it will fold into these slots in the edge, thereby preventing catching of clothing, &c.

I do not claim, broadly, a stay made of two hinged parts with a rule-joint, as the same is not new; but

I claim- A trunk-stay consisting of the jointed or hinged sections a a, in combination with the springs g g for pressing the stay outward, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLOTTE H. PARLIMAN.

Witnesses A. M. KENNIGOTT, LYMAN LYON. 

